Thai people across the country joined the rest of the world in celebrating the arrival of 2023, the Chinese zodiac Year of the Rabbit, Saturday night in both discreet and joyful ways.
As many young revellers in Bangkok and at tourist destinations, such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai,flocked to various venues to seek joy and fun, many other people, especially upcountry, chose to go to temples to pray and to ask for divine blessings for good health, wealth and happiness.
Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram Temple in Bangkok held a New Year’s prayer session and a Lanna-style ritual, supposedly to prolong life.
Phra Mahasak Satathiko, a senior monk at the temple, said that the New Year’s chanting of prayers is a blessing for all who attend the prayer session.
The temple also arranged a book in which people can express their “Get Well” wishes to Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, who is still hospitalised at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.
The temple opened its chapel last night to allow people to pay respect to Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, the main Buddha statue in the temple.
Meanwhile, at Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok, tens of thousands of people gathered to watch the fireworks display, the highlight of the Countdown event. The event also featured a live concert, featuring numerous popular Thai and foreign singers, rock and rapper bands performing.
Traffic ground to a standstill on the approaches to the intersection at around midnight, as many motorists stopped to catch a glimpse of the spectacular fireworks display, which prompted gasps of joy from many revellers.
A countdown event was also held on Lan Island, off Pattaya beach, which was packed with both Thai and foreign tourists watching a free concert.
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